How Lovely Is Thy Dwelling Place

Verse 1

How lovely is thy dwelling-place, O Lord of hosts, to me! The tabernacles of thy grace how pleasant, Lord, they be!

Verse 2

My thirsty soul longs veh'mently, yea faints, thy courts to see: My very heart and flesh cry out, O living God, for thee.

Verse 3

Behold, the sparrow findeth out an house wherein to rest; The swallow also for herself hath purchasèd a nest; Ev'n thine own altars, where she safe her young ones forth may bring, O thou almighty Lord of hosts, who art my God and King.

Verse 4

Blessed are they in thy house that dwell, they ever give thee praise.

Verse 5

Blessed is the man whose strength thou art, in whose heart are thy ways:

Verse 6

Who passing thorough Baca's vale, therein do dig up wells; Also the rain that falleth down the pools with water fills.

Verse 7

So they from strength unwearied go still forward unto strength, Until in Zion they appear before the Lord at length.

Verse 8

Lord God of hosts, my prayèr hear; O Jacob's God, give ear.

Verse 9

See God our shield, look on the face of thine anointed dear.

Verse 10

For in thy courts one day excels a thousand; rather in My God's house will I keep a door, than dwell in tents of sin.

Verse 11

For God the Lord's a sun and shield: he'll grace and glory give; And will withhold no good from them that uprightly do live.

Verse 12

O thou that art the Lord of hosts, that man is truly blessed, Who by assurèd confidence on thee alone doth rest.